Reggae In The Fields
Saturday August 22nd, 2015 with Junior Smith
Review/Interviews JAMBANA 2015

JAMBANA™ One World Festival, has grown out of years of world class concerts, theatrical productions and festivals, produced by Jones & Jones Productions Ltd, founded by Denise Jones & Allan Bucka Jones in 1987. The first was the all night Reggae On Yah in 1987 at The Great Hall on Queen Street West, downtown Toronto. All night reggae music from 10pm to 6am, featured the best in Canadian Reggae. The Jam ended with Blue Mountain Coffee and Ackee and Salt Fish. Reggaebana began in 1993, primarily to infuse reggae music into the predominantly soca and calypso flavoured Caribana Festival. The first Reggaebana featured headliners, included the late great Joseph Hill and Culture, Leroy Sibblies and Willie Williams. The seven day festival started at the legendary El Mocambo, moved to the Opera House and Ontario Place over the years, and featured some of the finest names in Reggae music from Canada and around the globe. Reggaebana artists on the annual summer concert series include Shaggy – his first Canadian performance, Half Pint, Majek Fashek, Freddie McGregor, Leroy Gibbon, Alton Ellis, Beenie Man, Luciano, Bounty Killer, Tiger, Big Youth, Dean Fraser and Firehouse Crew, Mikey General, JUNO Award winners Carla Marshall and Nana McLean and a host of others. Today JAMBANA™ One World Festival has evolved tremendously as it represents Canada’s growing cultural diversity in its finest form, representing Canada’s Multicultural Communities through performances by internationally acclaimed bands, artists and JUNO Award winners. Feel rhythms of Reggae, World Beat, Salsa, Asian/South Asian flavours, Soca, R&B, Jazz and Gospel, Dance and Comedy. Experience the sights, sounds, taste and global diversity through JAMBANA™ One World Villages. “JAMBANA™ is now in its seventh year and we have been blessed with growth and development over the years and we are thankful for the phenomenal support of our Canadian friends and family and an increasing number of friends from across the US and around the world. The Jones & Jones team is delighted to produce this event that is truly fun for the whole family”, says Denise Jones, Executive Producer of JAMBANA™ One World Festival and President of Jones & Jones Productions Ltd. “Markham Fair Grounds is our venue and will deliver nothing but good vibes all day long. One World. One Love.” (jambana.com)